Painting Techniques

Cutting In Paint Like a Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide

Cutting in paint is a technique that allows you to paint without using painter’s tape. It’s a great way to save time and effort, and it can give you a more professional-looking finish.

Before You Begin

To get started, you’ll need a few basic supplies:

• A high-quality, 2-inch sash brush
• A cut bucket (a paint bucket with no inner lip)
• Paint
• A clean white rag

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Fill the Bucket With Paint

Fill a cut bucket with no more than about 1/2 inch of paint. Too much paint in the bucket makes it harder to avoid overloading the brush. Keep the sides of the bucket clear for wiping off excess paint.

2. Load the Brush With Paint

Dip the tip of the brush into the paint. Drag the bristles against the inside edge of the bucket to remove excess paint. The brush should be relatively dry since you’ll only be painting small areas at a time.

3. Apply Paint to the Line

Grip the brush loosely near the bristles as you would grip a pencil. Place the bristles on the surface, forming a wedge shape with the bristles. Use the sharp end of the wedge to start the paint line. Draw the bristles along the line you want to paint. As you begin moving the brush, let the bristles press into a fan shape. The outermost bristles are drawing the line, not the entire bristle surface.

Tip: Draw flat crescent shapes with the paint. These crescents start slightly away from the line, move over and track along the line for a few inches, then pull away. Create a long straight line by applying several flat crescents in a row.

4. Broaden the Paint Line

If you’ll be painting the flat of the wall with a roller, broaden the paint line to provide a safety margin when rolling. After painting a fine edge up to the line, follow by widening the line to 2 inches or more.

5. Clean Mistakes

Use a clean, white rag slightly dampened with water to wipe off paint that gets onto unintended surfaces or to clean up a messy line.

Tips For Cutting In Paint

• Start with a new paint brush, especially if this is your first time.
• Keep the brush dry and avoid overloading it with paint. It’s tempting to want to load up the brush; avoid that temptation.
• Don’t press too hard, as this will only cause the bristles to spread out.
• Keep the brush moving at a steady, but not fast, pace.
• As you get more experienced, aim to produce fewer and flatter crescents until you can draw a long line with a single linear brush motion.
• If you wipe the paint as soon as it’s applied, it will come off with no trouble. Waiting just a few minutes can make it harder to remove.
• Keep a damp rag handy at all times so that you can mop up mistakes as quickly as possible.
• For large applications, use a straight brush rather than the angled sash brush to broaden the line.

When to Call a Professional

If you’ve tried cutting in paint and still can’t get it, don’t worry—sometimes, even the most patient painter can’t seem to get the technique. This may be time to call in a professional painter.

Uneven and bumpy surfaces are particularly difficult for cutting in paint; even taping the surface might be difficult. That’s another reason you may want to have a professional do the job.